Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Salem, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Salem, MA

🙂 Solo nomad: San Diego, CA is 4.9% cheaper than Salem, MA without rent, and 17.7% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: San Diego, CA is 2.2% cheaper than Salem, MA without rent, and 27% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.80 $22.80

$25.38 $25.38

-10.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.8 $99.8

$101 $101

-0.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.74 $14.74

$11.01 $11.01

33.88%

Cappuccino

$5.83 $5.83

$5.14 $5.14

13.42%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.57 $2.57

14.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.15 $2.15

16.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.16 $8.16

$8.08 $8.08

0.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.93 $8.93

$6.91 $6.91

29.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.23 $1.23

1.63%

White Bread (500g)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.52 $4.52

-4.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$8.77 $8.77

-49.71%

Eggs

$5.33 $5.33

$4.41 $4.41

20.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 $13.29

$14.54 $14.54

-8.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.76 $12.76

$14.09 $14.09

-9.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.51 $18.51

$8.86 $8.86

108.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.56 $4.56

0.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.27 $1.27

35.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.34 $3.34

22.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$4.65 $4.65

3.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$4.32 $4.32

-32.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.44 $2.44

-2.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.43 $2.43

-7.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.60 $3.60

-31.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.85 $11.85

$9.47 $9.47

25.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.24 $15.24

$13.07 $13.07

16.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$7.20 $7.20

-64.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.44 $2.44

2.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 $72.7

$54.5 $54.5

33.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.53 $3.53

-16.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.60 $1.60

28.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.45 $27.45

$29.67 $29.67

-7.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.02 $1.02

22.55%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.2K $31.2K

$29.3K $29.3K

6.47%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.1K $27.1K

$25.9K $25.9K

4.47%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$277 $277

$172 $172

61.53%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$89.8 $89.8

-25.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$81.0 $81.0

$82.5 $82.5

-1.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.1 $68.1

$42.08 $42.08

61.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.95 $24.95

Cinema Ticket

$16.06 $16.06

$14.56 $14.56

10.30%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,640 $1,640

$1,323 $1,323

23.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.9K $28.9K

$23.2K $23.2K

24.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 $58.9

$72.4 $72.4

-18.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.5 $57.5

$56.5 $56.5

1.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$95.3 $95.3

5.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$102 $102

14.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,356 $2,356

17.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,393 $2,393

$2,005 $2,005

19.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,065 $5,065

$3,739 $3,739

35.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,155 $4,155

$2,813 $2,813

47.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,546 $8,546

$2,657 $2,657

221.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,767 $6,767

$2,395 $2,395

182.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,744 $5,744

$9,344 $9,344

-38.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.51

-1.84%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Diego, CA: January 13, 2026

Last update for Salem, MA: January 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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